Hacktreks: 2014/15 TRAVEL ARCHIVES

EUROPA

ASIA/AFRICA/INDIA +

THE AMERICAS +

Palermo’s Inimitable Hotel Orientale Paul Michelson Part of me was thinking, “This is great!” The other part was thinking, “What have I gotten us into?” Salzburg Mozartwoche 2015 Elizabeth Schotten Merklinger In Salzburg every year is a Mozart year, when visitors from around the world flock to this lovely Baroque town for the annual Mozartwoche. The Holy See Fred C. Wilson III The Vatican City State or Holy See is the world’s smallest country. It’s located in the heart of Rome the Italian capitol. The Shortest Distance Jans Schaper By the time I get to Kyrgyzstan I have been hitchhiking for several months. After Hours at the Colosseum Samantha Connors Silent and reflective, we stood there. Solitary figures against a glorious backdrop of antiquity—like lonesome time travelers. Ten Masterpieces in Florence Emily Mead Florence is one of the most remarkable cities in the world. One of the most visited cities in Italy. Here are a few must-see works of art and architecture. The Terrible Wonderful Beautiful Trip - Abbay McCandless The best trip of my life consisted of a lost credit card, a lack of lodging arrangements and a crumpled twenty-euro note. Twenty euros that is, in a country that uses the pound as its currency. Beautiful Burundi: A Country Less Travelled - Fergus Simpson After over a decade of civil war and ethnic strife, Burundi is starting to receive a gentle stream of more open-minded travellers. Cheers? Samantha Piergross in Paris Backpack strapped on and duffle bag slung across my body, I trekked from my gate inside of Orly to the shuttle bus. Rediscovering Jewish Sicily Irene Shaland with Bianca Del Bello The Semitic people were the first group to colonize Sicily and establish a city-port they called Zis, now known as Palermo. The Non-Skier’s Guide to Enjoying the Swiss Alps Irene Shaland The majestic Alps with all their infinite beauty and sublimity were often on my mind as an ultimate destination place. Berlin, The Old And The New Norman Wolfer The Berlin of 2014 is a mixture of the unchanged and the ever-changing.  We were visiting and evaluating today’s Berlin against the backdrop of our four year life there in the early 1970’s. Best Places to Visit in Turkey Nicola Williams Turkey offers diverse tourist attractions including the ancient ruins of Ephesus and the luxurious beach resorts along Aegean Sea. The Hypochondriac Traveller’s Guide to Ebola - Scott Masson Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about West Africa’s “Killer Virus” Cleaning Behind the Ears Emma Kerss in Turkey Ellie and I find ourselves standing at the arched stone entry to an old bathhouse on the corner of a cobblestone alley way somewhere deep in the heart of Istanbul The Living Desert Experience I was invited to join what’s known as a ‘Living Desert Experience’ with Charly’s Desert Tours, a Swakopmund-based tour company that specialise in desert adventures Under the Skin of St Petersburg Fi McIntyre I’d been working in St Petersburg as an English teacher for four months when my parents decided it was high time for a visit... Bohemian Rhapsody John M. Edwards JME takes the waters in the Czech Republic’s so-called West Bohemian Spa Triangle in order to spy out the local talent and bathe in the buff Game Night on the Río Manzanares Toni Pecchia I can hear it. At first it scares me a little, because it’s an incredibly primal, torrential sound triumphing over the usual sounds of a big city. Istanbul, (not Constantinople) Keeley Graham This time last month I was wandering carefree through the stalls of the sprawling Grand Bazaar in the very centre of Turkey’s coolest city, Istanbul. The George Enescu Music Festival - Romania Elizabeth Schotten Merklinger The George Enescu Festival was started in 1958 to honour Enescu, the country's greatest composer, violinist and conductor... Voodoo, Slaves & White Man's Graves by Tom Coote Sam North review If you ever fantasised about flying to West Africa and exploring all its charms - read Voodoo, Slaves and White's Man Graves first. You may well want to alter your plans. Help Me, Ronda (Espana) John M. Edwards This improbably fantastic cliff-side nest persists on the Quixotic verge of imagination, much like waking up inside a Magic Realism novel Nightlife in Harar Justin Dupee Jesse and I had read that at night wild hyenas come down from the hills and roam within the walled confines of the city Timelines & Tramroads Crickhowell Walking Festival Jane Anderson “Over there,” our leader announced “you can see Llangorse Lake.  Last year a water-skier was bitten by a pike”.  Silence dropped over the group.  Exploring Scandinavia: Reflections and Conversations Irene Shaland with photos by Alex Shaland Is the Jewish story of today’s Norway all about young people leaving the country to build their lives elsewhere? Barcelona Mathew Sterne On a rundown street in Barcelona we sit on our balcony and watch the prostitutes go by. Elderly men with walking sticks emerge from their siestas and enjoy the last of the afternoon sun. Visiting Highclere Castle, aka Downton Abbey Marija Stajic If you’re one of the millions of fan of the award-winning Downton Abbey series, a thought of visiting the real castle must have entered your mind once or twice. Postcard from Ghent Colin Todhunter From a hot December in South India to zero degrees in Europe in a mere 12 hours. Mermaids, Coffee and Hash Colin Todhunter Never go to Copenhagen! If you hate great architecture... Thrust and Struggle: Easy in Copenhagen Colin Todhunter The Vesterbro area of the city lies just behind the main railway station. It may play host to prostitution and illicit drug selling, but it is also an up and coming residential location. Earworms in Bohemia Jane Anderson What is it about Smetana? As we walked across Charles Bridge, having been in Prague less than an hour, I realised that I had developed an earworm. Andriy Rozumovskyi musical festival competition of young performers - Kateryna Dzekun This good tradition started in 2012 in Baturyn palace when we celebrated the 260th birthday anniversary of Andriy Rozumovskyi The Constitution of Pylyp Orlyk the first democratic constitution in the world - Kateryna Dzekun One may claim that the modern history of a nation begins with its constitution. Rozumovskyi Palace Ukraine Hetmanate Kateryna Dzekun The imposing Hetman palace in all its beauty can compete with the most distinguished palaces of the world Germany's Other Forest David McVey In the Saar-Hunsruck you can find peace, quiet beauty and the sense that few other English speakers have bothered to seek it out.	Majuli: The Assamese Wonder Explored - Sean Lee Willing to explore the least charted corners of the world? You could head for Assam’s Majuli (India) this year. Chennai Express A city of 4 million, and the Chennai Express, one big road, shared by rusting cycles, three wheelers, vintage bus behemoths, and water buffalo Visiting Japan Fred C Wilson 111 Meeting up with pen-pals in Tokyo Macau Fred C. Wilson III The Gambling industry depends solely upon the continued prosperity of other Asian economies Manila on Foot Fred C. Wilson III Manila on foot can be an enlightening adventure- it's one big outdoor food court with barbeque grills on most blocks. Serene Destinations in Australia Stacy Eva Australia is a standout amongst the most lovely nations on the planet and is likewise hailed a significant destination. Last Call for Mercy Michael Britton Hsuen frightens me. I guess it is the way she takes care of the rat problem in the Step Down Guesthouse in Kuala Lumpur. Bad Dreams in Turtuk Bad Mike stranded in Turtuk Sadly no one has ever died of unhappiness. Many have perished in landslides and rock falls. Some may even have perished from eating rancid cabbage.Discover Manila - A City full of Suprises - Sean Lee Manila is changing and welcoming visitors from across the globe. The Paua and the Glory John M. Edwards New Zealand’s Prized Sea Snails A lifetime under a flyover - The invisible life of the Mumbai homeless - Shivaji Das There are slums in Mumbai and then there are slums, and then there are the homeless, a word that seems too benign for their condition. Bali Fred C Wilson 111 The scenery, indigenous art galleries, Hindu temples laden with ancient artifacts, the spicy foods, exotic markets and the wonderful folks who make up this beautiful place Tagaytay - Paradise Found Fred C. Wilson III  Philippine resort city of Tagaytay is as close as you can get to a paradise on Earth. The place is a virtual Shangri La. Moving to the Philippines? Fred C Wilson 111 on life in Paradise There are many advantages to living in the economically thriving Philippines. Viet Nam Fred C. Wilson III Ho Chi Minh City, like Manila on the other side of the South China Sea, is a ‘young’ city; a city of ‘20 Somethings.’ Derelict Dhows - Mandvi, India Michael Britton Barmer, a three hour local bus ride south of Jaisalmar, is the starting point of a painting journey around the Western rim of India's Gujarat State bordering the Arabian Sea. Spanking The Children of Paradise Michael Britton I never saw a body washed up on a beach before. From a distance he looked to be enjoying the waves lapping over him as you or I would enjoy laying in the surf on a hot afternoon. Indian Twister Evan Denno To fit twenty-one people (including two small children and a baby) into one Range Rover knock off, first forget about seating; it's about volume. Hack, Slit, Squeal: Immunity in Georgetown, Chennai Colin Todhunter Hack, slit, slice. Butchery in Georgetown. Peeled, pink goat carcases in fly-ridden, one-room shops Thai Street Food John M. Edwards As someone used to eating Thai food in New York City...I was blown away when I tasted real Siamese fare for the first time The Industrious Trishaw Driver John M Edwards At the Sultan’s Kraton in Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia, I stood face to face with “The Great Man”--the Sultan himself ... Going Local in Thailand The northeast of Thailand – called “Isan” by the locals – is the largest of the main regions of Thailand, yet is visited by only one percent of international travelers... Huxian farmer paintings of Shaanxi, China - Shivaji Das Fattened chickens delicately balanced in a bicycle, joyous grandmothers cleaning the ears of laughing grandfathers All the Tea in China Tom Clifford For hours our small bus had been buffeted by nature’s wrath, exposed on Guizhou’s mountain passes and only the dexterity and skill of our driver kept us this side of paradise. Where Cows & Princesses Glide through Mud - Colin Todhunter Look up, but certainly look down as well. Just watch your step. There are a million stones to negotiate and a thousand bits of loose concrete. Namibia: The Wild & the Pristine Sean Lee Infallibly associated with the quintessential idea of African safari, Namibia presents you the brilliant convergence of the undulating deserts with the perpetually turbulent coastline. 'Guided' tour of Marrakech Medina Eleanor Shelton I had a sense of impending doom even before I exited the taxi... My Jewish Stories of Africa Irene Shaland My husband and I have been traveling the world together for over 30 years, ever-attuned to the Jewish story How to do The Seychelles on a Budget - Danielle Caldron The Seychelles can be an affordable holiday destination for solo travelers with the right planning. It Began in Zanzibar Jackie Brinkman I decided it was time to get out of my comfort zone and see the world beyond Denver The Grand Oak, Coorg, India Marianne de Nazareth It's a pretty comfortable five hour drive from Bangalore, if you are looking for a quick getaway from the chaos that the city has descended into. The Grand Oak is the bliss, that stressed souls need. Spiritual Nepal on two wheels Junesh Twana It was ready to leave the dust, noise and disambiguated traffic of Kathmandu behind for seven days. Dalian Rocks! Frank Beyer Dalian, a city in the north-east of China, lies on the southern tip of the Liaoning peninsula and faces Korea across the yellow sea. How To Travel With Nerve Damage Ben Hill This is travel how-to, without a medical diagnosis In the Shadow of Never Mountain Matt Norcini The church bells echoed through the quiet town streets of Berat, Albania. It was 6pm, and it was time for giro. We had read about this tradition of “total town promenade” and, honestly, thought little of it. Back in Transylvania Josef Oberwinzer “I hope it will be totally crazy” was my new German friend's mantra ever since we agreed to drive to Transylvania together.	Big Sur Country Fred C Wilson 111 Northern California’s not the place to visit in early autumn. The weather’s cold, cloudy and it rains nearly every day Bon Bini Curacao Fred C Wilson 111 Willemstad is divided in two halves by shark infested Santa Anna Bay Discoveries Walli F. Leff The trail along the Deschutes River in beautiful Tumwater Falls Park, just outside of Olympia, Washington, passes by the waterfalls... Patagonia – The Road to Insanity Olivier Guiberteau A bus trip would take forty-eight hours and likely boredom, possible rectal damage, and potential insanity – but also, a great adventure. Amish Country Fred C. Wilson III In all honesty I rarely ate so well; mashed potatoes with creamy homemade butter and gravy, yummy roast beef that melts in your mouth, corn bread with dressing, fresh homemade Dutch apple pie In Darwin's footsteps, on a luxury cruise in the Galápagos islands Jean-Marc Theodorowicz To many visitors, the Galápagos Islands remain the image of a paradise; a mythical place - so symbolic in essence- like a child’s dream that beckons, beyond the wildest imagination. A Panamanian Experience Norman Wolfer Every country seems to have wonderful things to offer along with the idiosyncrasies that take away from paradise.  Panama is no exception Daytrip to Saskatoon Habeeb and Muna Salloum “Welcome to Saskatoon the ‘Paris of the prairies’”, the guide’s voice thundered through the tour bus. He continued, “Saskatoon is magic!" Pittsburgh Re-Born Habeeb Salloum "Did you see the new Pittsburgh? It’s awesome! Antiguan Retreat: Moving Past the Honeymoon Phase Amy Siqveland Though I’m not one to usually laze around on the beach, when I was informed that I had a won a “free trip” to a “wellness sanctuary” in Antigua, I was ecstatic to be able to defrost. Sooke Harbour House: Dining On Vancouver Island John M. Edwards I felt like a character out of “Finding Nemo” as I immersed myself in the Philip’s octopuses’ garden with no shade San Francisco Fred C. Wilson III San Francisco has an exotic quality about it compared to your average American city with its lookalike brownstone dwellings Chicago Fred W Wilson This city isn’t for the weak and faint of heart. You slip up it can and will eat you alive. Dog Days by Andrew Thompson Tales From an American Road Trip Truth be told, anyone even thinking about taking a trip around American on a Discovery Pass should read this and hire a car immediately. The Henry Doorly Zoo Marianne de Nazareth Two warm days in the middle of winter in Omaha? There was no way we were going to waste them. So off we went to the Henry Doorly Zoo, which according to its credits, it is the best zoo in the world I left my heart-shaped box in San Francisco John M. Edwards For a city known for its liberal viewpoint and gay lifestyle, its earthquakes and trollycars, this epiphanic epicenter is all about desire and longing. Cuba Milos Radulovic I've sort of stumbled into Cuba, to be honest. I didn't plan to have my vacation there, at all, from the start Museums & Churches of Quebec Fred C Wilson III I’ve always wanted to visit our neighbor to the north. At long last I was going to see Canada Astro Poboys John M Edwards John discovers New Orleans unique cuisine to be out of this world, not just Creole and Cajun clichés (“Gumbo” and “Jambalaya”), but also, well, nothing beats an Oyster Poboy! Omaha Dining Marianne de Nazareth Never thought the experience of eating out in Omaha, USA could be such fun Austin - Texas Marianne de Nazareth The carousel was a razzle dazzle set of Gibson Guitars painted in wonderful hippie colours as a welcome to us into Austin, Texas. Eating Indian at Indian Oven Nebraska, Omaha Marianne de Nazareth It's much more Indian than the paisley 'tikka' on the I of the logo of the name Indian Oven, or the antique artefacts that grace its sweeping walls. Mackinac Island Briana Newcomb Big blue eyes, short small body, I stood at the dock of the ferry as everyone unloaded. I looked at the beauty I was about to enter. Come to Winnipeg Folk Fest 2014 - Lizzie Clarke Artists and bands come from all over the world to perform on eight stages scattered across the festival site Mission to Mexico Fred C. Wilson III I was invited to come to Mexico to assist Fr. John Calgaro or Padre Juan as he’s affectionately called by his large flock of 35,000 souls with his religious mission Ecuador - a guide Fred C. Wilson III You may never want to return to your country of origin once you visit Ecuador Postcard from Cahuita John M. Edwards I stood in a state of stupefaction, eavesdropping on a few random undocumented locals who looked like they were engaging in a slapping fight—except with warm smiles of nonrecognition on their faces, maybe ganja buzzes. Summer of Chamber Music in Ottawa Elizabeth Schotten Merklinger For four weeks every summer, Ottawa is transformed into a magical setting for about one hundred and fifty chamber music concerts. Pennsylvanian Dutch John M Edwards When my friend arrived I began brainstorming for something different to do, and I decided on a car trip to the Pennsylvania Dutch Country Christmas in Chicago Fred C. Wilson III Christmas in Chicago can be a wonderful experience if you know where to go. Letters from Belize Caroline Ervin We landed in Belize - the bus creaked off in the direction of the orphanage, and I saw a land so beautiful that I wanted the ride through it to last forever Wyoming - The Big Empty Fred C. Wilson III It was my first bus trip out West. I’ve always wanted to see the majestic Rocky Mountains close up Upstate New York Ivan Maddog Noble Some stretch of stone between Albany and Syracuse. Generations of forgotten old men lived in these timber palaces. Hub Of All Action- NYC Rachel Duggan Fast pace walking. Honking cars and taxis. Crowded streets. Many cities sound like this but there is no other place like this one. New York City. Twin Oaks - A Utopian Community Fred C Wilson 111 It was my inaugural drive in '67; my first time behind the wheel. And there was a horrific hurricane brewing out east. Tucked N - The Smoky Mountains Marianne de Nazareth We were searching and trawling the net, to be able to spend a day in a cabin in Pigeon Forge, Knoxville. Ontario’s Lake Country along the Maple Syrup Trail Habeeb Salloum In one of Canada’s most picturesque regions with gleaming lakes and rivers it is Maple Syrup Season! Reclaiming the Land of the Kawarthas Habeeb Salloum & Muna Salloum The region of Peterborough and the Kawarthas is a tourist destination par excellence. Day-Tripping Out of Portland: 6 Striking Natural Wonders in 3 Days - Tonia Hauser all photos © Tonia Hauser 2015 Visiting the city? Take time to appreciate Oregon’s breathtaking beauty, just outside. Travels with Mathias in the Yucatan Elizabeth Schotten Merklinger “We were told,” said Mathias, “that this is really the entrance to the underworld.”

John M Edwards wins 5 NATJA awards for his contributions to Hackwriters in 2013 Sojourn in Sopron wins Silver / Montezuma's Revenge wins Bronze

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